What do you think?
Rate this book
Reign #1
Keeper of Reign
Sixteen year old Jules Blaze, heir of a Keeper, suspects his family hides a forgotten secret. It's bad enough that his people, the Elfies of Reign, triggered a curse which reduced the entire inhabitants to a mere inch centuries ago. All because of one Keeper who failed his purpose. Even the King's Books, penned with the Majesty's own blood, did not help ward off this anathema. Now, Gehzurolle, the evil lord, and his armies of Scorpents, seem bent on destroying Jules and his family. Why? Gehzurolle's agents hunt for Jules as he journeys into enemy land to find the truth. Truth that could save him and his family, and possibly even reverse the age-long curse. Provided Jules doesn't get himself killed first.
Keeper of Reign of the Reign Fantasy adventure series promises mystery and supernatural action adventure for readers 10-17. Set in the magical Kingdom of Reign, this teen fantasy series has been on the Kindle Amazon best sellers list since it was launched. Today is reigns high on the Christian fantasy and children's fantasy best sellers charts on Amazon. Grab this free young adult fantasy now and enjoy this epic fantasy about the magical people of the Kingdom of Reign. Book 2, Prisoner of Reign is now out on Kindle. This is where the mystery and action adventure continues as the Elfie people struggle to survive in a land fraught with evil enemies with supernatural powers. How can the cursed Elfies survive when faced with supernatural powers that they themselves do not seem to possess? Any teen or pre-teen who loves supernatural adventure fantasy will enjoy this fast-paced epic saga filled with mystery and suspense. This award winning novel has won multiple literary awards. Be sure to find out more on the emmaright dot com site.
Keeper of Reign of the Reign Fantasy adventure series promises mystery and supernatural action adventure for readers 10-17. Set in the magical Kingdom of Reign, this teen fantasy series has been on the Kindle Amazon best sellers list since it was launched. Today is reigns high on the Christian fantasy and children's fantasy best sellers charts on Amazon. Grab this free young adult fantasy now and enjoy this epic fantasy about the magical people of the Kingdom of Reign. Book 2, Prisoner of Reign is now out on Kindle. This is where the mystery and action adventure continues as the Elfie people struggle to survive in a land fraught with evil enemies with supernatural powers. How can the cursed Elfies survive when faced with supernatural powers that they themselves do not seem to possess? Any teen or pre-teen who loves supernatural adventure fantasy will enjoy this fast-paced epic saga filled with mystery and suspense. This award winning novel has won multiple literary awards. Be sure to find out more on the emmaright dot com site.
358 pages, Paperback
First published January 23, 2013
98 people are currently reading
719 people want to read
About the author
Emma Right
31 books123 followersAward winning, best selling author of young adult and children books, Emma Right is also a CSAHM homeschooling five children. Ms. Right is a multi-award winning copywriter.Emma Right is also the owner of YourAuthorBusiness which aims to help authors maneuvering the self publishing and book business. For tip,s tactics and strategies to book marketing and getting an online presence, visit her site, and her Youtube channel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
June 25, 2013
*Note: This is a very negative review. I tried not to rip the book to shreds, but I had a lot of problems with it*
I've been on a fantasy kick lately. My go-to genre is contemporary, but the enthralling complexity of a great fantasy novel has become more appealing during these slow summer months. Unfortunately, the complexities in Keeper of Reign were not the intentional or enjoyable kind.
Let's start with, in my opinion, the most important part of a fantasy novel: the world building. The author, Emma Right, tried to show the reader her world without going into lengthy descriptions. Unfortunately, this tactic led to little pockets of info dump every so often. We would get a character going into an explanation about something with way more detail than would be said in actual conversation. Another tactic used was what I like to call the "universal truth"tactic. This is when all of the characters know or acknowledge something without the reader being shown why. For example: All of the characters in Keeper of Reign knew how "dangerous" the land across the river, Handover, is. The reader is supposed to think of Handover as dangerous, but the problem comes when we are never shown an example of that danger.
Even after finishing Keeper of Reign I was confused about the world. I never felt as though I understood the way it worked or the history, and learning those thins is often my favorite part of a fantasy novel.
Next, let's talk about the characters. The world building was disappointing, but I could have gotten over it if the characters had been compelling; they were not. I've never read a book where I felt as though every single character was there simply to serve a purpose. Every time a new character was introduced, it was soon clear why the author chose to write them. In fact, I felt like the author just added a new character each time she wanted something to happen in the plot.
The main character, Jules, didn't seem to have a distinct personality. I never really got to know him, and I never saw any character development. He had four siblings, which would have been a lot more interesting if they had had distinct personalities. Besides a few character traits, like a penchant for using complex words, they were all really bland and practically interchangeable.
Unfortunately, I didn't really care about the characters or what happened to them.
The plot of the novel was confusing. Is Jules looking for his grandparents? His dad? His mom? Or is he looking for a way to reverse the curse put on his people? I was never really sure what he was trying to do. The plot moved along, but towards the end I got really tired of the conveniently placed secondary characters and side adventures. There was way too much going on at once.
Finally, the writing. The dialogue was stiff and sometimes cheesy. There wasn't any personality in the dialogue and I was only sure who was speaking if it was specifically stated. Right tried to impart a fairytale type of narrative into Keeper of Reign by using the word "for" in place of "because", as in "I didn't like this novel, for the author's writing wasn't polished." These instances stuck out to me and made me roll my eyes. It was used inconsistently and felt like a lazy way for the author to make the story seem more fantastical.
Lamentably, I did not enjoy Keeper of Reign. In my opinion, the novel isn't ready for publication. I think the author has a lot of good ideas and an interesting concept, but it was executed poorly and is in great need of an editor. I don't think I will be continuing on with this series.
I've been on a fantasy kick lately. My go-to genre is contemporary, but the enthralling complexity of a great fantasy novel has become more appealing during these slow summer months. Unfortunately, the complexities in Keeper of Reign were not the intentional or enjoyable kind.
Let's start with, in my opinion, the most important part of a fantasy novel: the world building. The author, Emma Right, tried to show the reader her world without going into lengthy descriptions. Unfortunately, this tactic led to little pockets of info dump every so often. We would get a character going into an explanation about something with way more detail than would be said in actual conversation. Another tactic used was what I like to call the "universal truth"tactic. This is when all of the characters know or acknowledge something without the reader being shown why. For example: All of the characters in Keeper of Reign knew how "dangerous" the land across the river, Handover, is. The reader is supposed to think of Handover as dangerous, but the problem comes when we are never shown an example of that danger.
Even after finishing Keeper of Reign I was confused about the world. I never felt as though I understood the way it worked or the history, and learning those thins is often my favorite part of a fantasy novel.
Next, let's talk about the characters. The world building was disappointing, but I could have gotten over it if the characters had been compelling; they were not. I've never read a book where I felt as though every single character was there simply to serve a purpose. Every time a new character was introduced, it was soon clear why the author chose to write them. In fact, I felt like the author just added a new character each time she wanted something to happen in the plot.
The main character, Jules, didn't seem to have a distinct personality. I never really got to know him, and I never saw any character development. He had four siblings, which would have been a lot more interesting if they had had distinct personalities. Besides a few character traits, like a penchant for using complex words, they were all really bland and practically interchangeable.
Unfortunately, I didn't really care about the characters or what happened to them.
The plot of the novel was confusing. Is Jules looking for his grandparents? His dad? His mom? Or is he looking for a way to reverse the curse put on his people? I was never really sure what he was trying to do. The plot moved along, but towards the end I got really tired of the conveniently placed secondary characters and side adventures. There was way too much going on at once.
Finally, the writing. The dialogue was stiff and sometimes cheesy. There wasn't any personality in the dialogue and I was only sure who was speaking if it was specifically stated. Right tried to impart a fairytale type of narrative into Keeper of Reign by using the word "for" in place of "because", as in "I didn't like this novel, for the author's writing wasn't polished." These instances stuck out to me and made me roll my eyes. It was used inconsistently and felt like a lazy way for the author to make the story seem more fantastical.
Lamentably, I did not enjoy Keeper of Reign. In my opinion, the novel isn't ready for publication. I think the author has a lot of good ideas and an interesting concept, but it was executed poorly and is in great need of an editor. I don't think I will be continuing on with this series.
August 12, 2016
As far as I'm concerned, the writing of Keeper of Reign is definitely not up to publishing standards. Events occur in obscure, vague text that the more easily confused reader will inevitably be baffled by, and the story is underway before the book's fictional world is properly established. The writing is weak in technical aspects, too; it's quite amateurish, reading like something I would expect to find free at FictionPress, not for sale on Amazon. Most important, however, is the incredibly vague world-building. All throughout the book, the author introduces fictional terms, items, and historical events, none of which are explained until long after the first mention of them; obviously, this makes for some incredibly confusing reading.
All that said, I don't recommend Keeper of Reign and won't be continuing on with the series. Furthermore, I will no longer be reading any of Emma Right's books due to offensive and/or rude behavior that she has demonstrated in the months since I read and reviewed Keeper of Reign. You can read my full review of this book, as well a more in-depth explanation of why Ms. Right has found a place on my DNR list, here at Amara's Eden.
A copy of this book was provided free via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
All that said, I don't recommend Keeper of Reign and won't be continuing on with the series. Furthermore, I will no longer be reading any of Emma Right's books due to offensive and/or rude behavior that she has demonstrated in the months since I read and reviewed Keeper of Reign. You can read my full review of this book, as well a more in-depth explanation of why Ms. Right has found a place on my DNR list, here at Amara's Eden.
A copy of this book was provided free via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 2, 2013
I got this book free to review from Netgalley. It sounded interesting, but it is poorly written with awkward wording and some editing errors. It is confusing and just not really worth struggling through to the end. I got about 1/3 of the way through it and I started skimming to see if it would get better, but it really does not.
It is Christian themed about creatures who are half elf and half fairy who are trying to save parts of a secret book from the bad guys. Jules and his four younger siblings set off on a journey to find their mother and or her book and or their grandparents - all of whom have disappeared. Because they are small, they face horrible dangers like birds and insects who want to eat or capture them. I cannot recommend this book.
It is Christian themed about creatures who are half elf and half fairy who are trying to save parts of a secret book from the bad guys. Jules and his four younger siblings set off on a journey to find their mother and or her book and or their grandparents - all of whom have disappeared. Because they are small, they face horrible dangers like birds and insects who want to eat or capture them. I cannot recommend this book.
June 29, 2013
I loved the way this story has elements that the whole family can enjoy--fantasy parts, mysteries to be solved, creatures, friendship, and adventure galore. The story had a very reminiscent feel to it (for me). It reminded me of stories I loved when I was younger, although it was in no way a copycat--stories like The Labyrinth, The Never Ending Story, The Secret of Nimh (ones I watched over and over again).
I loved the feeling of the adventure and of the realization that certain ties, those of family and close friends, are strong, especially when faced with a challenge such as this one. I really liked the way Jules changed his feelings toward a friend because they were forced to work together. Sometimes in life, we realize that things aren't always the way we perceive them to be.
Content: there aren't any questionable scenes or offensive language.
My only complaint is that it seemed to end suddenly, but I'm guessing since it's labeled as a Book 1, there will be a sequel that will add to the story. I hope I'm right! :)
I loved the feeling of the adventure and of the realization that certain ties, those of family and close friends, are strong, especially when faced with a challenge such as this one. I really liked the way Jules changed his feelings toward a friend because they were forced to work together. Sometimes in life, we realize that things aren't always the way we perceive them to be.
Content: there aren't any questionable scenes or offensive language.
My only complaint is that it seemed to end suddenly, but I'm guessing since it's labeled as a Book 1, there will be a sequel that will add to the story. I hope I'm right! :)
June 17, 2013
***Advanced copy provided by NetGalley.com***
I thought the premise was interesting, but ultimately, I found it difficult to get through this book. One of my pet peeves is when authors name their characters things which are unpronounceable, and you know they're unpronounceable because they've included pronunciation instructions on the first page, which was the case with Tst Tst (pronounced Sit Sit). The Character List at the beginning was also irritating, and felt like it was there more for the author than for the reader.
Those, however, are the little things. More importantly, I found the pacing to be too slow, the characters' dialogue a tad stilted, the ending rather abrupt. It seems clear that there is a set-up for a sequel, but I would rather this book have been shorter by half and had a satisfying conclusion. Moreover, though marked as YA, I would recommend it more as a book for children 8-12, perhaps.
I thought the premise was interesting, but ultimately, I found it difficult to get through this book. One of my pet peeves is when authors name their characters things which are unpronounceable, and you know they're unpronounceable because they've included pronunciation instructions on the first page, which was the case with Tst Tst (pronounced Sit Sit). The Character List at the beginning was also irritating, and felt like it was there more for the author than for the reader.
Those, however, are the little things. More importantly, I found the pacing to be too slow, the characters' dialogue a tad stilted, the ending rather abrupt. It seems clear that there is a set-up for a sequel, but I would rather this book have been shorter by half and had a satisfying conclusion. Moreover, though marked as YA, I would recommend it more as a book for children 8-12, perhaps.
July 18, 2013
Thanks to Netgalley & Telemachus Press for the advanced reader copy.
Jules's family has a big secret. They are Keepers. When his mother disappears, Jules is afraid that the evil Gehzurolle has her. He sets out with his younger siblings to find her and protect their secret.
Although the main character of the book is 17, I think that this book is more appropriate for middle grade. The characters of the younger kids are very cute and Jules intriguing and engaging. However, I am a little confused about the story. I am not exactly sure who the Keepers are/were, what their fight with Gehzurolle is about and why they were cursed to small (this last part took me a few chapters to determine what the curse was). I also really struggled with the motivations of Miranda & Saul. The whole book really seems to just be set up for the next book which I'm not sure I would read because I'm not very invested in the story. The book has a potential, but just wasn't fleshed out enough.
Jules's family has a big secret. They are Keepers. When his mother disappears, Jules is afraid that the evil Gehzurolle has her. He sets out with his younger siblings to find her and protect their secret.
Although the main character of the book is 17, I think that this book is more appropriate for middle grade. The characters of the younger kids are very cute and Jules intriguing and engaging. However, I am a little confused about the story. I am not exactly sure who the Keepers are/were, what their fight with Gehzurolle is about and why they were cursed to small (this last part took me a few chapters to determine what the curse was). I also really struggled with the motivations of Miranda & Saul. The whole book really seems to just be set up for the next book which I'm not sure I would read because I'm not very invested in the story. The book has a potential, but just wasn't fleshed out enough.
July 10, 2013
lost interest and had a hard time keeping characters straight.
August 28, 2013
This is a fantasy action book. Lots of drama, action, danger and mystery. It keeps your attention you are not sure who to trust or not to trust. Who died or did not die. It is a clean entertaining book that I want to read the next book in the series.
The plot had lots of twists and turns I did not expect. Lots of interesting characters like giant bugs some good some bad. The races of different people all were cursed at the same time and became really short. With the Elfies the shortest. They live in trees and hide under mushrooms for safety because they are so small.
The Keeper families are hidden from each other to protect them7 The keepers have to keep their book safe, if they lose their book it is easier to lose their lives. Their are 5 keeper families and their books needed to end the curse.
Jules Blaze is one of the main characters in the book. He is sixteen. His family is one of the Keeper families. Each keeper family as part of the curse has only one child. But Jules has four siblings. He is the oldest.
His Grandparents are missing. Someone came and told them that they died. Jules wants to go search for them. But his little sister follows him so he takes her back home. The next day all 5 children are out playing and they don't make it back home before dark. When they get their they run into their neighbor 16 year old Miranda. Their house is all broken up. Their mom is missing. So is their book.
Their father is away at war he is a General in the army. They are not sure what to do next. They decide to go to a neighbor's house and right after they get close it burns up and they fall down in a gopher tunnel deep underground.
In the next kingdom over they go to see if they can find their family. In that kingdom the ruler Gehzurolle wants all the elfies dead and the keepers and their books brought to him. He wants to end the curse too. armies of Scorpents can smell elfies. They like to torture their captives. But the Elfies have Lanterns that can hide them.
Their are traitors to be found that causes some keepers to be caught. Their are 7 kids trying to find their missing families and they get separated a few times and reunited back and forth. Trying to rescue different members of their families and their books. They meet friends and enemies along the way with interesting creatures like giant butterfly. I liked where the book ended with a little cliffhanger.
I was given this ebook to read and asked to give honest review of it by NetGalley , Telemachus Press (PB). Also asked to be part of its book tour too.
May 18, 2013 PUB Telemachus Press Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) Members' Titles ISBN 9781939337696
June 16, 2013
The ancient books were written in blood. Most are lost, their Keepers with them. A curse that befell a people; a Kingdom with no King. Life couldn’t get more harrowing for the Elfies, a blend of Elves and Fairies. Or for sixteen-year-old Jules Blaze. Or could it? For Jules, the heir of a Keeper, no less, suspects his family hides a forgotten secret. It was bad enough that his people, the Elfies of Reign, triggered a curse which reduced the entire inhabitants to a mere inch centuries ago. All because of one Keeper who failed his purpose. Even the King’s Ancient Books, did not help ward off that anathema. Now, Gehzurolle, the evil lord, and his armies of Scorpents, seem bent on destroying Jules and his family. Why? When Jules’ family home is ransacked to find his mother’s Ancient Book and his mother is kidnapped, he realizes the threat is real. Gehzurolle’s agents hunt for Jules as he journeys into enemy land to find the truth. Truth that could save him and his family, and possibly even reverse the age-long curse. Provided Jules realizes who is a friend and who is a foe, and doesn’t get himself killed first.
Although the book is listed as YA, this is a wonderful read for kids 10 and upward. Central to the plot and the family is Jules Blaze. There is a nice feel to his relationships with his four younger siblings, each of whom has a clearly defined character. Jules is responsible, a little over-anxious at times, but eminently likeable, with a noble heart. His strength and courage mark him as a strong leader in this quest. He faces dangers, disappointments, and betrayal with maturity. An important aspect of fantasy and sci-fi is world-building: it must be real and credible. Author Emma Right does a great job here, incorporating the magical with the mundane, and blending the mysterious with the dangerous in expert fashion. The Elfies are extremely small, hence their hazards are myriad: from aggressive birds, insects, and animals, to falling acorns, to natural elements, to the evil Lord Gehzurolle’s agents. The author weaves back history and Elfie information deftly into the plot enabling the action to race onward. There is a helpful cast list for younger readers, as well as a map (always a bonus) to help adventurers share this epic quest. I found the ending a little abrupt, but it hints of more action to come. Highly recommended.
First reviewed for Readers Favorite.
Although the book is listed as YA, this is a wonderful read for kids 10 and upward. Central to the plot and the family is Jules Blaze. There is a nice feel to his relationships with his four younger siblings, each of whom has a clearly defined character. Jules is responsible, a little over-anxious at times, but eminently likeable, with a noble heart. His strength and courage mark him as a strong leader in this quest. He faces dangers, disappointments, and betrayal with maturity. An important aspect of fantasy and sci-fi is world-building: it must be real and credible. Author Emma Right does a great job here, incorporating the magical with the mundane, and blending the mysterious with the dangerous in expert fashion. The Elfies are extremely small, hence their hazards are myriad: from aggressive birds, insects, and animals, to falling acorns, to natural elements, to the evil Lord Gehzurolle’s agents. The author weaves back history and Elfie information deftly into the plot enabling the action to race onward. There is a helpful cast list for younger readers, as well as a map (always a bonus) to help adventurers share this epic quest. I found the ending a little abrupt, but it hints of more action to come. Highly recommended.
First reviewed for Readers Favorite.
September 13, 2013
I was hesitant to sign up to review this book at first because it didn't show any type of love life and if anybody knows me then they know I need a little bit of the love dynamic in the books I read. I love fantasy so I signed up anyways. There was a little middle school crush going on but it wasn't enough for me. There was nothing pushing me to read the book, it got boring so I didn't finish it. I think this should be more of a children's book, not a young adult book. I had nothing to relate to with the characters so it didn't appeal to me in the end.
May 8, 2017
This is an interesting read and an intriguing story. I want to know what happens next. This was a fun read and I'm glad that I came across this one.
February 23, 2020
Good book!
Lots of magic good verses evil, mistakes by good people and bad people. Young children trying to save the world while wondering if their parents are even alive.
Lots of magic good verses evil, mistakes by good people and bad people. Young children trying to save the world while wondering if their parents are even alive.
May 15, 2025
Keeper of Reign has a very unique premise that includes curses, elfies (the half elf, half fairy inhabitants of Reign who are only an inch tall due to said curse), a traitor, an evil foe, and a quest to break the curse and return the elfies to regular size. It was very interesting, to say the least. I thought the world building was well written, and the plot was good, but I did feel that the characters could have used some depth. The story moved along at a quick pace and was an easy read. I think the book would appeal to middle grade readers more than high schoolers, and I definitely picked up the Christian vibe, so this is a clean book that you don't have to worry about your child reading.
All in all, I feel like the pros outweigh the cons here, so I'm giving Keeper of Reign 3.5/5 stars, rounded up to 4/5 stars.
3.5/5 stars.
All in all, I feel like the pros outweigh the cons here, so I'm giving Keeper of Reign 3.5/5 stars, rounded up to 4/5 stars.
3.5/5 stars.
August 9, 2013
Received review copy from publicist.
Keeper of Reign is the first book of a new fantasy series being marketed as young-adult. I would definitely say that this seems like a book meant for middle-grade readers instead. The main character, Jules, may be sixteen years old, but he sounds much more like a twelve-year-old. I gave the book to my eleven-year-old sister to see what she thought, and she agreed that Jules sounded closer to her own age.
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I thought it had a great idea behind it, and it could have been an epic fantasy adventure.
What I liked
The pacing - This book is definitely fast-paced and full of action. It made the book a quick read. There weren't any moments where the story started to drag.
The world-building - I'll admit that there isn't a lot of world-building because there's so much action, but what's there is good. I personally love when an author builds up their setting throughout the story, rather than write a detailed (and slow) history in one of the early chapters. That's how the author handled the world-building here. She kept adding in details and history of Reign during the story, so the more you read, the more you were able to visualize the setting.
The concept - I think the idea for this book is great. A fantasy world where the different creatures are suffering from a curse that's shrunk them to the size of acorns. An evil tyrant seeking to destroy the Keepers that can overthrow him. The friend-turned-traitor who's torn between doing what's actually right and doing what feels right. All of these are classic elements of a good fantasy adventure.
What I disliked
The formatting - The book is 340 pages long, and instead of it having twenty or thirty chapters, it's made up of 99 chapters. Each chapter is between two to five pages long. This set-up bothered me, because it made character development almost non-existent. With chapters that short, there was only time for action. This kind of book would be good for people who aren't big readers because they need constant movement to keep their attention. My one sister, who isn't a big reader, said that this format of short, action-packed chapters would be better for her.
The melodrama & predictability - And with such short chapters, there was plenty of melodrama. Each chapter had to end with a mini cliffhanger, which was unnecessary for me. It just felt over-the-top at times, especially the last few chapters. Also, certain aspects of the story were predictable; I could see them coming, and therefore, I felt no surprise at the plot twists.
The grammatical errors - Major pet peeve here. I know I'm not perfect. There may even be some errors/typos in this review. But there's a big difference between a book and a blog entry/review. I think it's way more important to triple-check for grammatical mistakes in a book. One or two might not be so bad, but if there are multiple errors throughout the book, it distracts from the story.
The writing style - The writing tended to be choppy, and the dialogue was sometimes stilted and cliched. Because of the choppiness, I got a little lost a few times and had to go back a page or two to see if I missed something. Also, the little bit of character development that was there, especially of the secondary characters, was extremely short and abrupt.
I honestly wanted to love this book, but there were too many things that kept it from happening. I think someone who isn't into reading epic fantasy with lots of detail would love this book. It would keep their attention with its quick pace, short chapters, and constant action. But I personally love those epic fantasy books like The Lord of the Rings, filled with lots of descriptions and details and character development. If Keeper of Reign had focused more on the characters and less on the cliffhangers, I think it would have been a really good book.
Keeper of Reign is the first book of a new fantasy series being marketed as young-adult. I would definitely say that this seems like a book meant for middle-grade readers instead. The main character, Jules, may be sixteen years old, but he sounds much more like a twelve-year-old. I gave the book to my eleven-year-old sister to see what she thought, and she agreed that Jules sounded closer to her own age.
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I thought it had a great idea behind it, and it could have been an epic fantasy adventure.
What I liked
The pacing - This book is definitely fast-paced and full of action. It made the book a quick read. There weren't any moments where the story started to drag.
The world-building - I'll admit that there isn't a lot of world-building because there's so much action, but what's there is good. I personally love when an author builds up their setting throughout the story, rather than write a detailed (and slow) history in one of the early chapters. That's how the author handled the world-building here. She kept adding in details and history of Reign during the story, so the more you read, the more you were able to visualize the setting.
The concept - I think the idea for this book is great. A fantasy world where the different creatures are suffering from a curse that's shrunk them to the size of acorns. An evil tyrant seeking to destroy the Keepers that can overthrow him. The friend-turned-traitor who's torn between doing what's actually right and doing what feels right. All of these are classic elements of a good fantasy adventure.
What I disliked
The formatting - The book is 340 pages long, and instead of it having twenty or thirty chapters, it's made up of 99 chapters. Each chapter is between two to five pages long. This set-up bothered me, because it made character development almost non-existent. With chapters that short, there was only time for action. This kind of book would be good for people who aren't big readers because they need constant movement to keep their attention. My one sister, who isn't a big reader, said that this format of short, action-packed chapters would be better for her.
The melodrama & predictability - And with such short chapters, there was plenty of melodrama. Each chapter had to end with a mini cliffhanger, which was unnecessary for me. It just felt over-the-top at times, especially the last few chapters. Also, certain aspects of the story were predictable; I could see them coming, and therefore, I felt no surprise at the plot twists.
The grammatical errors - Major pet peeve here. I know I'm not perfect. There may even be some errors/typos in this review. But there's a big difference between a book and a blog entry/review. I think it's way more important to triple-check for grammatical mistakes in a book. One or two might not be so bad, but if there are multiple errors throughout the book, it distracts from the story.
The writing style - The writing tended to be choppy, and the dialogue was sometimes stilted and cliched. Because of the choppiness, I got a little lost a few times and had to go back a page or two to see if I missed something. Also, the little bit of character development that was there, especially of the secondary characters, was extremely short and abrupt.
I honestly wanted to love this book, but there were too many things that kept it from happening. I think someone who isn't into reading epic fantasy with lots of detail would love this book. It would keep their attention with its quick pace, short chapters, and constant action. But I personally love those epic fantasy books like The Lord of the Rings, filled with lots of descriptions and details and character development. If Keeper of Reign had focused more on the characters and less on the cliffhangers, I think it would have been a really good book.
August 29, 2013
This review was part of a blog tour hosted by I Am A Reader. You can find this and more at Such A Novel Idea.
This was a story about Elfies, a race of tiny creatures that were a combination of elves and fairies. While the Elfies used to be normal sized, a curse on the Kingdom of Reign has left them tiny. And without a ruler.
In Reign there are family Keepers -- a person who keeps the family's book safe -- a book written in blood. Many of the ancient books are lost, including the one written by the King that holds all the answers to save Reign.
We begin with Jules Blaze, a sixteen year old Elfie who has four siblings and a mother to care for as his father is off protecting the kingdom. He is told that his grandparents died in an accident, but is not quick to believe the news. He begins to set off to find them, only to be brought back by his little sister. The following day, he and his siblings are out together when they learn that their home was broken into -- and their mother and family book are missing.
Thus sets the stage for the quest Jules finds himself on.
This story reminded me of The Secret of NIMH or The Borrowers. There was definitely an air of mystery and a lot of suspense. All in all, there were some great lessons to be learned by the characters (and the reader). I have to say reading "books wrote in blood" definitely caught my attention! I love the excerpt I chose to share, because it shows that there is so many lost secrets -- including that they are smaller than they should be.
While the book had some technical issues, the story was compelling enough to keep me reading. I do wish we would have gotten more of the back story earlier in the book and more questions answered. I think these questions most readers have about the back story will help fill in the vast world that is the Kingdom of Reign.
The cover is brilliant and the story is something I know my children will be interested in when they are old enough to read it. It is fast-paced and full of action. For a younger kids book, there are a lot of hard names, so your kids may ask a lot of questions on how to say that. Never fear, Emma does have a list of characters that come with pronunciations. This was definitely helpful. Overall, I enjoyed this story and think your middle grade kids will too.
*I received this book in exchange for an honest review*
This was a story about Elfies, a race of tiny creatures that were a combination of elves and fairies. While the Elfies used to be normal sized, a curse on the Kingdom of Reign has left them tiny. And without a ruler.
In Reign there are family Keepers -- a person who keeps the family's book safe -- a book written in blood. Many of the ancient books are lost, including the one written by the King that holds all the answers to save Reign.
We begin with Jules Blaze, a sixteen year old Elfie who has four siblings and a mother to care for as his father is off protecting the kingdom. He is told that his grandparents died in an accident, but is not quick to believe the news. He begins to set off to find them, only to be brought back by his little sister. The following day, he and his siblings are out together when they learn that their home was broken into -- and their mother and family book are missing.
Thus sets the stage for the quest Jules finds himself on.
This story reminded me of The Secret of NIMH or The Borrowers. There was definitely an air of mystery and a lot of suspense. All in all, there were some great lessons to be learned by the characters (and the reader). I have to say reading "books wrote in blood" definitely caught my attention! I love the excerpt I chose to share, because it shows that there is so many lost secrets -- including that they are smaller than they should be.
While the book had some technical issues, the story was compelling enough to keep me reading. I do wish we would have gotten more of the back story earlier in the book and more questions answered. I think these questions most readers have about the back story will help fill in the vast world that is the Kingdom of Reign.
The cover is brilliant and the story is something I know my children will be interested in when they are old enough to read it. It is fast-paced and full of action. For a younger kids book, there are a lot of hard names, so your kids may ask a lot of questions on how to say that. Never fear, Emma does have a list of characters that come with pronunciations. This was definitely helpful. Overall, I enjoyed this story and think your middle grade kids will too.
*I received this book in exchange for an honest review*
July 7, 2013
I'm not too sure what's going on in Keeper of Reign, but here's my summary:
Long time ago, Elfies (Elves?) were normal sized, until a keeper lost the Gift from the King and shrank everyone. And now Jules, the oldest child of a Keeper family has to keep his family safe when his mom is abducted. He finds that this is linked to their ancient enemy who wants to destroy all Elfies.
The world-building was, I think, not that good. There was an interesting prologue, and we are eventually given a backstory (rather late in the book I feel), but there's not enough explanation for me. Why are the Elfies hunted? What happened to the King? Why is there a difference between Handover and Reign? Who/What is Handover/Reign ruled by? Sure, these things don't have any direct relation to the plot, but they do help make a fantasy world more realistic.
I would say that for me, the weakest part of the book were the characters. The story is told mainly from Jules' point of view, but this is one of the few books where I think more viewpoints are needed. The book does switch viewpoints at times (especially when Jules is separated from his family), but a very important character - Miranda is missing her own voice. She's one of the most complex characters (a traitor with a conscience?) and without a viewpoint to flesh her out, she remains nothing more than an irritating traitor.
Apart from Miranda, I think the other characters weren't very well-written either. I didn't understand a lot of character motivations. The story was fairly fast-paced (well, they were pretty much chased the whole way), so it may be that space for characterisation was taken up by plot.
If you like fast-paced fantasy books, you'll probably like this. Unfortunately, I probably won't be picking up the sequels (if there are sequels - but with the ending, it seems like the start of a series), because it really isn't my cup of tea.
Disclaimer: I got a free galley from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.
This review was first posted to Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
Long time ago, Elfies (Elves?) were normal sized, until a keeper lost the Gift from the King and shrank everyone. And now Jules, the oldest child of a Keeper family has to keep his family safe when his mom is abducted. He finds that this is linked to their ancient enemy who wants to destroy all Elfies.
The world-building was, I think, not that good. There was an interesting prologue, and we are eventually given a backstory (rather late in the book I feel), but there's not enough explanation for me. Why are the Elfies hunted? What happened to the King? Why is there a difference between Handover and Reign? Who/What is Handover/Reign ruled by? Sure, these things don't have any direct relation to the plot, but they do help make a fantasy world more realistic.
I would say that for me, the weakest part of the book were the characters. The story is told mainly from Jules' point of view, but this is one of the few books where I think more viewpoints are needed. The book does switch viewpoints at times (especially when Jules is separated from his family), but a very important character - Miranda is missing her own voice. She's one of the most complex characters (a traitor with a conscience?) and without a viewpoint to flesh her out, she remains nothing more than an irritating traitor.
Apart from Miranda, I think the other characters weren't very well-written either. I didn't understand a lot of character motivations. The story was fairly fast-paced (well, they were pretty much chased the whole way), so it may be that space for characterisation was taken up by plot.
If you like fast-paced fantasy books, you'll probably like this. Unfortunately, I probably won't be picking up the sequels (if there are sequels - but with the ending, it seems like the start of a series), because it really isn't my cup of tea.
Disclaimer: I got a free galley from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.
This review was first posted to Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
August 25, 2013
For sixteen-year-old Jules Blaze - the oldest in a family of five - life has been tough. His father Jon, is a General who is away fighting to protect the Kingdom of Reign from invasion by an aggressive neighboring tribe called the Handoverans. Jules cares for his mother and four younger siblings, and hopes that his father will return home safely.
As a child, Jules had listened with rapt attention to his Grandpa Leroy's many tales and legends of the Keepers of Reign. His stories were about their people - an ancient and regal race known as Elfies - a blend between elves and fairies. Leroy told of tomes written in blood; many of them lost throughout time, their Keepers with them. Eons ago, a curse befell the Elfies and the Kingdom of Reign became a realm without a king.
Life couldn't get more harrowing for the Elfies; or could it? Danger is brewing throughout Reign - the evil King Gehzurolle of Euruliaf, and his army of Scorpents are intent on invading the Kingdom of Reign and ultimately Gehzurolle wants to destroy the Elfies. Already, Gehzurolle's minions Whisperer and Rage, are secreted in Reign, ready to do their master's bidding.
But for Jules his nightmares have only just begun. First off, he has no idea where his father is, as his mother hasn't received any communication from him in months; then his grandparents, Leroy and Bonnie mysteriously disappear, and Jules' Keeper mother soon follows suit. Now Jules has to make sure his four siblings stay safe. And alive. Especially since Jules and his family have inadvertently inspired the scrutiny of Gehzurolle. But why?
In Jules' quest to find answers, to locate his missing family members, and the Ancient Books of the Keepers as well, he loses control of his situations, faces multiple dilemmas while trying to save his family, and his kingdom, and uncovers a family secret that could either save them, or kill them all.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I do like any type of fantasy that features harrowing danger, but that also teaches perseverance through life's challenges and difficulties. I give this book an A+! and will certainly be looking for more books by Emma Right in the future.
As a child, Jules had listened with rapt attention to his Grandpa Leroy's many tales and legends of the Keepers of Reign. His stories were about their people - an ancient and regal race known as Elfies - a blend between elves and fairies. Leroy told of tomes written in blood; many of them lost throughout time, their Keepers with them. Eons ago, a curse befell the Elfies and the Kingdom of Reign became a realm without a king.
Life couldn't get more harrowing for the Elfies; or could it? Danger is brewing throughout Reign - the evil King Gehzurolle of Euruliaf, and his army of Scorpents are intent on invading the Kingdom of Reign and ultimately Gehzurolle wants to destroy the Elfies. Already, Gehzurolle's minions Whisperer and Rage, are secreted in Reign, ready to do their master's bidding.
But for Jules his nightmares have only just begun. First off, he has no idea where his father is, as his mother hasn't received any communication from him in months; then his grandparents, Leroy and Bonnie mysteriously disappear, and Jules' Keeper mother soon follows suit. Now Jules has to make sure his four siblings stay safe. And alive. Especially since Jules and his family have inadvertently inspired the scrutiny of Gehzurolle. But why?
In Jules' quest to find answers, to locate his missing family members, and the Ancient Books of the Keepers as well, he loses control of his situations, faces multiple dilemmas while trying to save his family, and his kingdom, and uncovers a family secret that could either save them, or kill them all.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I do like any type of fantasy that features harrowing danger, but that also teaches perseverance through life's challenges and difficulties. I give this book an A+! and will certainly be looking for more books by Emma Right in the future.
August 15, 2014
Does Jules overcome? In Keeper of Reign by Emma Right, first grandpa and grandma disappear. Then mom does, as well. What is a boy to do? What most of us would only do vicariously - go deep into enemy territory with not much more than a bag and a special lantern.
“Focus on the light in the darkness, and swim toward the light. I will help you overcome.” We don’t know who Arnett is yet in this first book in the series; but she is very intriguing. We do have a few clues. She took Jules under water to eat chocolate cake with raspberry frosting swirling on his tongue (sounds delicious!). And, here is a part of the song Arnett sang to Jules:
You have been made just like that flame,
No matter beaten, broken, shamed.
Overcome you will as your flames soar,
Until you too can flare and roar.
And be a fire shining out,
Devoured not, no fear, no doubt.
She’s prophesying his future in song and the reader will see Jules progress through book one.
The story comes alive where you can almost see the scene in color before you. You are pulled into The Reign’s fast-paced world of capture, surprising new characters and easily lose track of time in the journey. Throw in a curse, mystery and awful evil dudes and you have all the fixings for a physiological thriller.
I fell in love with the vivid characters: incorrigible, three-year-old, Tippy (a favorite), and Jules’ ingenuity and perseverance, plus lots of other unique characters. I thrived on the creativity in The Reign culture — web bridges are intriguing. I would LOVE to walk on one!
This was a great read. I could not put the book down. I was even reading in snatches where/whenever I could.
Keeper of Reign speaks to a wide age group. Its kingdom culture has lots of nuances with excellent morals. Additional editing is needed and I saw some discrepancies, but these did not dissuade me from avidly reading on. I am excited for the journey to continue in the 2nd book in the series. I have a 14 yr. old boy who will eat this up - along with his friends! Overcomers? You betcha!
I received this book from the Book Club Network bookfun.org in return for my honest review.
“Focus on the light in the darkness, and swim toward the light. I will help you overcome.” We don’t know who Arnett is yet in this first book in the series; but she is very intriguing. We do have a few clues. She took Jules under water to eat chocolate cake with raspberry frosting swirling on his tongue (sounds delicious!). And, here is a part of the song Arnett sang to Jules:
You have been made just like that flame,
No matter beaten, broken, shamed.
Overcome you will as your flames soar,
Until you too can flare and roar.
And be a fire shining out,
Devoured not, no fear, no doubt.
She’s prophesying his future in song and the reader will see Jules progress through book one.
The story comes alive where you can almost see the scene in color before you. You are pulled into The Reign’s fast-paced world of capture, surprising new characters and easily lose track of time in the journey. Throw in a curse, mystery and awful evil dudes and you have all the fixings for a physiological thriller.
I fell in love with the vivid characters: incorrigible, three-year-old, Tippy (a favorite), and Jules’ ingenuity and perseverance, plus lots of other unique characters. I thrived on the creativity in The Reign culture — web bridges are intriguing. I would LOVE to walk on one!
This was a great read. I could not put the book down. I was even reading in snatches where/whenever I could.
Keeper of Reign speaks to a wide age group. Its kingdom culture has lots of nuances with excellent morals. Additional editing is needed and I saw some discrepancies, but these did not dissuade me from avidly reading on. I am excited for the journey to continue in the 2nd book in the series. I have a 14 yr. old boy who will eat this up - along with his friends! Overcomers? You betcha!
I received this book from the Book Club Network bookfun.org in return for my honest review.
July 20, 2013
3.5 Stars in my Sky!
CUTE is the first word which comes to mind when describing Keeper of Reign. Emma Right has written a sweet story about a Kingless Kingdom, where a race of creatures called Elfies live (think Elves and Fairies combined). The Elfies are plagued by an ancient curse. The ancient curse means that the Elfies have been shrink to Tom thumb size, which is particularly harrowing for Jules Blaze and his family who are being hunted by terrifying baddies (Scorpents) under the control of the evil Gehzurolle. I did have problems getting my head around the names (although Jules' little sister Tippy had the cutest name).
Anyway back to the story... Most of the plot revolves around finding an ancient book, first seen in the prologue (being written by the King). The Keepers hold the answer and as the heir Jules needs to find a way to save Reign and his family.
I should point out here that although Keeper of Reign has been marketed as a YA series (this is book #1), I felt it was really more suitable for slightly younger kids. Mainly because the language is probably better suited for a younger age group. That said I did still enjoy the story and loved how adorable the Blaze siblings were.
I enjoyed the story but found Jules a little annoying, but I put it down to all the responsibility placed on him (or he places on himself). Their small stature also had a large influence on the story. The mentions of giant fish and huge plants reminded me of The Borrowers. Every time Jules was betrayed or mislead (ahem this means you Miranda), I really felt for him. He was just so trusting and naïve. I would have appreciated more on Miranda, the resident baddie with a heart.
Keeper of Reign is a sweet fantasy adventure which kids and older readers will enjoy, and is defo worth a read if you like good, clean stories.
I received a copy of Keeper of Reign in exchange for an honest review!
August 27, 2013
In a way, this reminded me of the movie EPIC - little people in the forest need to battle evil to survive - and a little bit of the enjoyable sibling relationships found in THE PENDERWICKS.
Jules has it rough. Not only does he find himself on a mission to save his missing mother and the lives of all Elfies, but he has his four younger siblings in tow. Quite a lot of a sixteen-year-old. But Jules is more capable than he suspects.
The main character, Jules, is a determined (and believable) young man. . .uhm, Elfie. His siblings might make his life miserable and down-right difficult at times but without them, he wouldn't make it. That's one of the things I truly enjoyed about this book. The family sticks together, accepts each other and forgives. Not to mention the terrific humour and fun they add to the story. Yep, there's adventure, there's danger, there's touching moments, and there's a whole lot of laughs in between.
The writing style was great for the age group. Descriptions were kept to a minimum, but Emma Right still managed to build an entire, living, touchable, believable world. The dialogue kept the story moving, and new twists and turns of danger never left a boring moment. The only thing which made me do a double-take was the round 100 chapters. Yep, 100 chapters in 340 pages. Although I found this made the story 'seem' a little choppy at times (although it really wasn't), I have to admit - as a kid, I would have loved that. Firstly, it gives an ego boost (I read 40 chapters last night!). Secondly, it's an easy way to mark where one left off or find a stopping place when Mom calls for you to take out the garbage. . . or those early hours of morning are finally creeping in and one really needs to get to bed.
Although this book has been marked for the upper middle grade, I really believe that even 9 or 10-year-olds will enjoy the wonderful world of these mini-people. . .Elfies.
Jules has it rough. Not only does he find himself on a mission to save his missing mother and the lives of all Elfies, but he has his four younger siblings in tow. Quite a lot of a sixteen-year-old. But Jules is more capable than he suspects.
The main character, Jules, is a determined (and believable) young man. . .uhm, Elfie. His siblings might make his life miserable and down-right difficult at times but without them, he wouldn't make it. That's one of the things I truly enjoyed about this book. The family sticks together, accepts each other and forgives. Not to mention the terrific humour and fun they add to the story. Yep, there's adventure, there's danger, there's touching moments, and there's a whole lot of laughs in between.
The writing style was great for the age group. Descriptions were kept to a minimum, but Emma Right still managed to build an entire, living, touchable, believable world. The dialogue kept the story moving, and new twists and turns of danger never left a boring moment. The only thing which made me do a double-take was the round 100 chapters. Yep, 100 chapters in 340 pages. Although I found this made the story 'seem' a little choppy at times (although it really wasn't), I have to admit - as a kid, I would have loved that. Firstly, it gives an ego boost (I read 40 chapters last night!). Secondly, it's an easy way to mark where one left off or find a stopping place when Mom calls for you to take out the garbage. . . or those early hours of morning are finally creeping in and one really needs to get to bed.
Although this book has been marked for the upper middle grade, I really believe that even 9 or 10-year-olds will enjoy the wonderful world of these mini-people. . .Elfies.
September 2, 2013
Keeper of Reign is a young adult book that is appropriate for all ages. The story is about a family of Elfies, specifically the eldest son Jules. The world that the Elfies live in is wrought with danger. Jules discovers early that his grandparents have died leaving him to be the man of the household. His father is away guarding the borders from the Handoverans, a similar race of people that have also been tortured under the rule of their king. To make matters worse, someone attacks his home and kidnaps his mom. All signs point to the girl he has feelings for, but no evidence to support that she is traitor the Elfies. You are probably thinking, "How would she be a traitor to the entire race from the kidnapping on one woman?" Well Jules's mom is a Keeper, hence the name of the book. She has hidden in her possession a book that was written by their previous king in his own blood. From what I understand, it's a book of prophecy as well as codes, maps, history, and perhaps more. One book can give the reader a lot of information on the Elfies, but if you have all five, you could rule over everyone.
It was a very interesting story. Jules and his four siblings along with two friends have many crazy adventures. They certainly get hurt along the way, but it's all very realistic for what they go through without being something that you don't want your kid to read. My only complaint about the book is the length of the chapters. There were chapters that were only two kindle pages in length. This is done when it changes perspective between the main character and typically bad guys. It makes sense why it happens, but it drives me nuts. It makes me feel like the book is a lot longer than it is when it really is a reasonable length. You should know that not a single book, but it is not a cliffhanger either. It's definitely a great book for your preteens and teenagers.
Read more reviews at Identity Discovery Blog.
It was a very interesting story. Jules and his four siblings along with two friends have many crazy adventures. They certainly get hurt along the way, but it's all very realistic for what they go through without being something that you don't want your kid to read. My only complaint about the book is the length of the chapters. There were chapters that were only two kindle pages in length. This is done when it changes perspective between the main character and typically bad guys. It makes sense why it happens, but it drives me nuts. It makes me feel like the book is a lot longer than it is when it really is a reasonable length. You should know that not a single book, but it is not a cliffhanger either. It's definitely a great book for your preteens and teenagers.
Read more reviews at Identity Discovery Blog.
October 1, 2013
Keeper of Reign is a twisting and turning fantasy that never quite lets you catch up with it. Every time I expected one thing to happen, something else did instead. The plot is exciting, fast paced, and believable. At least if there were such a world as Reign.
This is one of those books where the setting takes as much precedence as the characters for me. The beautiful little world of Reign was told in a perfect way. I could quite easily imagine the “giant” trees that surrounded the homes, the enormous Brooke Beginning, the many huge creatures. I loved all the descriptions. It was one of my favorite things, and it is something that I think helps to make a fantasy novel good.
I enjoyed reading about all the Blaze children. They were fun and exciting. The each had their own little quirks. At times I would be troubled with how some of them acted, but typically I enjoyed their interactions and getting to know them all through their personalities. Jules could be a bit spacey, but for the most part he was a good leader, and he was very brave. I liked his character, and I can’t wait to see what he will do in the next book.
As much as I enjoyed the Blaze children, I think I loved the secondary characters more. On their travels the children meet so many people and connect with others they already have a past with. I liked Holden’s character a lot. By far my favorites were Hooks, Abel, and Tennesson. I think that each of these secondary characters added so much to who the children were and the story.
Keeper of Reign is full of adventure. There were tons of little separate adventures that the children and other characters were taking. I loved the wildness of it all. I think lovers of fantasy books will truly enjoy reading Keeper of Reign. I am ready to read the next book, just waiting for the release date.
I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.
This is one of those books where the setting takes as much precedence as the characters for me. The beautiful little world of Reign was told in a perfect way. I could quite easily imagine the “giant” trees that surrounded the homes, the enormous Brooke Beginning, the many huge creatures. I loved all the descriptions. It was one of my favorite things, and it is something that I think helps to make a fantasy novel good.
I enjoyed reading about all the Blaze children. They were fun and exciting. The each had their own little quirks. At times I would be troubled with how some of them acted, but typically I enjoyed their interactions and getting to know them all through their personalities. Jules could be a bit spacey, but for the most part he was a good leader, and he was very brave. I liked his character, and I can’t wait to see what he will do in the next book.
As much as I enjoyed the Blaze children, I think I loved the secondary characters more. On their travels the children meet so many people and connect with others they already have a past with. I liked Holden’s character a lot. By far my favorites were Hooks, Abel, and Tennesson. I think that each of these secondary characters added so much to who the children were and the story.
Keeper of Reign is full of adventure. There were tons of little separate adventures that the children and other characters were taking. I loved the wildness of it all. I think lovers of fantasy books will truly enjoy reading Keeper of Reign. I am ready to read the next book, just waiting for the release date.
I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.
September 1, 2013
(Originally posted on http://www.theyalitchick.blogspot.com)
Keeper of Reign is the kind of classic adventure novel that readers cannot help but fall in love with. The story is enchanting as much as it is packed with action, and readers are in for an exciting and captivating ride from the very first page.
Right was able to fabricate an incredible new world that can still be connected to reality. Having the elfies be of tiny statue gets the reader to really question what is really happening in the areas of the forest we cannot see.
Jules is a character that the reader can root for, being brave and adventurous, without being that unnecessary perfection that many male characters seem to be. He is a realistic character, and sometimes is overwhelmed by his destiny, which is understandable. All of the characters display great qualities and development, including Miranda, who does not allow one to form a clear opinion of her very easily.
Although there are many fantasy and adventure novels out there, Keeper of Reign proves to be unique on its own. The relationship of the Keepers and the land engrosses the reader with the story. There were no slow points in reading, and every twist and turn of the plot was welcomed greatly, occasionally with real surprise. It isn't easy to find a plot with this kind of magic and action, on top of the excellent characters and dialogue.
After reading the end of the novel, it just makes the reader want to experience more and read the next book. It is clear that Reign has a rich history that was not fully explained in this first book, and I am hoping to see more of that in the second.
Keeper of the Reign was an excellent adventure, and I am absolutely honored to have been able to read it and be a part of the tour. I can highly recommend the book to all readers, especially those of fantasy and adventure.
Keeper of Reign is the kind of classic adventure novel that readers cannot help but fall in love with. The story is enchanting as much as it is packed with action, and readers are in for an exciting and captivating ride from the very first page.
Right was able to fabricate an incredible new world that can still be connected to reality. Having the elfies be of tiny statue gets the reader to really question what is really happening in the areas of the forest we cannot see.
Jules is a character that the reader can root for, being brave and adventurous, without being that unnecessary perfection that many male characters seem to be. He is a realistic character, and sometimes is overwhelmed by his destiny, which is understandable. All of the characters display great qualities and development, including Miranda, who does not allow one to form a clear opinion of her very easily.
Although there are many fantasy and adventure novels out there, Keeper of Reign proves to be unique on its own. The relationship of the Keepers and the land engrosses the reader with the story. There were no slow points in reading, and every twist and turn of the plot was welcomed greatly, occasionally with real surprise. It isn't easy to find a plot with this kind of magic and action, on top of the excellent characters and dialogue.
After reading the end of the novel, it just makes the reader want to experience more and read the next book. It is clear that Reign has a rich history that was not fully explained in this first book, and I am hoping to see more of that in the second.
Keeper of the Reign was an excellent adventure, and I am absolutely honored to have been able to read it and be a part of the tour. I can highly recommend the book to all readers, especially those of fantasy and adventure.
August 26, 2013
This book had me within the first chapter - I loved the characters and the fact that they were (for the most part) Elfies (a cross between elves and fairies) made it better. Magical and mystical creatures have always been my favourite part of the fantasy genre. I found myself worrying about Jules, Holden, Miranda, Ralston, Bitha, Tst Tst (my favourite!), and Topee. I couldn't put the book down until I found out what happened. Except I didn't. Well I didn't find out everything - the big secrets are revealed in the next installment due in 2014. I'm not generally a patient reader - I usually like to read whole series at a time - but this one is worth reading right away and waiting for the next installment. This book would be ideal to read out loud to the whole family. The action is fast-paced, the twists and turns are novel, and you truly never know where the friends will end up next. One of the best things about the book is that it's a "safe" read for a young teen - it's not inappropriate for younger readers but they may not understand parts of the romantic subplot - it's a grown up adventure without being sexual or using foul language. There is a character that every kid (and adult) can relate to, though a dictionary or thesaurus may be necessary for younger readers to understand some of what Tst Tst says. Having been a loquacious child myself, I was drawn to Tst Tst. Jules is the adventurous one but Tst Tst just grabbed my hand and led me through the adventure. Even with a partial cliffhanger ending, I was still satisfied when I finished the book. The main plot may not have come to an end but several of the sub plots did and it felt right. If you enjoyed the magic and mystery of The Hobbit or Harry Potter, Keeper of Reign is another must read.
July 25, 2013
I greatly enjoyed reading the prologue, but was disappointed when the backstory was finally introduced, I guess I assumed it would be in the prologue, or after it. Keeper of Reign is an extremely fast paced written book about discovering ones self and extreme adventure.
Friendship is greatly stressed throughout this book as it is the baseline to where strength and courage comes from. Leaning on friends, and holding dear to them is one of the key elements that I saw in this book.
This book is listed as Young Adult but I think it would work for even younger children as well since it has key values and morals that are important for everyone to learn. The dialogue is easy to read, and could be read by a younger crowd.
Jules was my favorite character since he seemed like a humble and strong leader. I really felt for him as he was constantly betrayed by those around him. They take advantage of his trusting and naive side which I found to be an indicator to evaluate the friendships you have. I'm sure we can all relate in some sense. Throughout the book I was constantly waiting for the traitor to be revealed in their small group of friends.
My only complaint about this book is the names that were chosen for the characters. Some were hard to pronounce, so I make up my own name in my head to be able to read it through. It's not really even a complaint as it is something I am pointing out.
I would rate this book a 5/5 for it's appeal to literally anyone. There is definitely something in this book for the whole family with lessons that can be applied to your own personal life. I absolutely loved it, and I cannot wait to start reading it with my family.
Friendship is greatly stressed throughout this book as it is the baseline to where strength and courage comes from. Leaning on friends, and holding dear to them is one of the key elements that I saw in this book.
This book is listed as Young Adult but I think it would work for even younger children as well since it has key values and morals that are important for everyone to learn. The dialogue is easy to read, and could be read by a younger crowd.
Jules was my favorite character since he seemed like a humble and strong leader. I really felt for him as he was constantly betrayed by those around him. They take advantage of his trusting and naive side which I found to be an indicator to evaluate the friendships you have. I'm sure we can all relate in some sense. Throughout the book I was constantly waiting for the traitor to be revealed in their small group of friends.
My only complaint about this book is the names that were chosen for the characters. Some were hard to pronounce, so I make up my own name in my head to be able to read it through. It's not really even a complaint as it is something I am pointing out.
I would rate this book a 5/5 for it's appeal to literally anyone. There is definitely something in this book for the whole family with lessons that can be applied to your own personal life. I absolutely loved it, and I cannot wait to start reading it with my family.
December 21, 2013
I'd give this book a 3.5.
Keeper of Reign by Emma Right is an interesting tale of mystery, adventure, and has ends with a mountain of a cliffhanger. The story centers on the Blaze children, mainly the eldest boy, Jules, who are Elfies - cursed to live at less than half their size.
Many generations ago, the King sat down to pen five books, using his own blood as ink. When he finished the task, he turned into a star and the books were handed down to his children. Flamethrower’s book was lost and the King’s crown smashed. It is up to the King’s descendants – the current and future Keepers – to reverse the curse and defeat the evil enemy, Gezhurolle, before he kills the Elfies one and all.
The Jules children, after being attacked by black birds and returning home to find it wrecked and their mother gone, embark on a journey from Reign to Handover in search of their lost family and the cure to the curse. Many unusual, and sometimes dodgy, characters are met along the way. Hooks, an old, unhappy fisherman who sets out with Jules to find his friend, Holden, is my favorite.
As Jules treks across Scorpent- and pit-infested land, he comes to find the truth about his family, who the traitor really is, and the answer to end the curse of the Elfies.
This is definitely a book I would recommend to any YA Fantasy reader. I enjoyed the story, but I wanted more from it. It left me with too much of a cliffhanger and the pacing was incredibly fast. In order to get all the information I wanted, I think this book could have been spread across two or three volumes. Keeper of Reign was a fun, light read.
Keeper of Reign by Emma Right is an interesting tale of mystery, adventure, and has ends with a mountain of a cliffhanger. The story centers on the Blaze children, mainly the eldest boy, Jules, who are Elfies - cursed to live at less than half their size.
Many generations ago, the King sat down to pen five books, using his own blood as ink. When he finished the task, he turned into a star and the books were handed down to his children. Flamethrower’s book was lost and the King’s crown smashed. It is up to the King’s descendants – the current and future Keepers – to reverse the curse and defeat the evil enemy, Gezhurolle, before he kills the Elfies one and all.
The Jules children, after being attacked by black birds and returning home to find it wrecked and their mother gone, embark on a journey from Reign to Handover in search of their lost family and the cure to the curse. Many unusual, and sometimes dodgy, characters are met along the way. Hooks, an old, unhappy fisherman who sets out with Jules to find his friend, Holden, is my favorite.
As Jules treks across Scorpent- and pit-infested land, he comes to find the truth about his family, who the traitor really is, and the answer to end the curse of the Elfies.
This is definitely a book I would recommend to any YA Fantasy reader. I enjoyed the story, but I wanted more from it. It left me with too much of a cliffhanger and the pacing was incredibly fast. In order to get all the information I wanted, I think this book could have been spread across two or three volumes. Keeper of Reign was a fun, light read.
June 17, 2013
Keeper of Reign is a fast-paced journey of self-discovery and great adventure. We watch with bated breath as a long forgotten legacy is slowly unraveled before our eyes. Legend is finally brought to light and destiny is slowing being fulfilled. The despised and neglected are standing up to claim their heritage and their birthright, and the plans of evil are being undone. Keeper of the Reign is a brilliant start to a very promising story.
The strong relationships that are forged throughout this story really spoke to my heart about the strength and courage that we draw from our friends and family whether we realize it or not. Throughout the good times and the bad times, we tend to glean the best from each other. This speaks volumes about how important it is that we do our best to cherish the time that we have with each other. We are not guaranteed a long life. We are not even guaranteed tomorrow or even the next second, so we need to never waste our words fussing or fighting. Instead, we should concentrate on loving each other. We need to see past the bad and forgive the pain brought upon us by those we love, so that we can continue to grow and become all that we are meant to be.
Emma Right has penned a beautiful story of devastating loss, unwavering faith, and promising hope. I am anxious to see how this story unfolds and find out what Right has in store for us. This story will warm your heart and keep you guessing. I would heartily recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy story with solid, well-developed characters.
The strong relationships that are forged throughout this story really spoke to my heart about the strength and courage that we draw from our friends and family whether we realize it or not. Throughout the good times and the bad times, we tend to glean the best from each other. This speaks volumes about how important it is that we do our best to cherish the time that we have with each other. We are not guaranteed a long life. We are not even guaranteed tomorrow or even the next second, so we need to never waste our words fussing or fighting. Instead, we should concentrate on loving each other. We need to see past the bad and forgive the pain brought upon us by those we love, so that we can continue to grow and become all that we are meant to be.
Emma Right has penned a beautiful story of devastating loss, unwavering faith, and promising hope. I am anxious to see how this story unfolds and find out what Right has in store for us. This story will warm your heart and keep you guessing. I would heartily recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy story with solid, well-developed characters.
August 27, 2013
This was such a unique and exciting read. It seemed those poor children had trouble and disaster waiting for them at every turn!
Keeper of Reign will excite and entice readers of all ages to join the Blaze children and the other keeper heirs as they try to save their home from the the forces of evil.
The evil doers in this book are unlike anything I've ever read before. From beings made of fire, to ones made of mist, even insect like ones, they're all intimidating.
This story will surprise lovers of the genre since it's supposed to be a YA novel. I assure you while it has all the makings of being just for younger readers, the writing style will draw in anyone that reads it.
I did notice a handful of errors here and there. All toward the back of the story (60-80% is when they start) They aren't anything major and they don't impede reading speed or flow.
I look forward to the next book in this series to be released eagerly so I can find out what Jules, Ralston, Bitha, Tst Tst, Tippy, Holdon, and Miranda's next adventure will be.
I give this book 4 of 5 paws.
Keeper of Reign will excite and entice readers of all ages to join the Blaze children and the other keeper heirs as they try to save their home from the the forces of evil.
The evil doers in this book are unlike anything I've ever read before. From beings made of fire, to ones made of mist, even insect like ones, they're all intimidating.
This story will surprise lovers of the genre since it's supposed to be a YA novel. I assure you while it has all the makings of being just for younger readers, the writing style will draw in anyone that reads it.
I did notice a handful of errors here and there. All toward the back of the story (60-80% is when they start) They aren't anything major and they don't impede reading speed or flow.
I look forward to the next book in this series to be released eagerly so I can find out what Jules, Ralston, Bitha, Tst Tst, Tippy, Holdon, and Miranda's next adventure will be.
I give this book 4 of 5 paws.
August 27, 2013
I love the fantasy genre, but I am going to say straight off that I had a hard time pronouncing names of the characters in my head. I loved that the author however provided a guide on how to say them. Major plus in my book because a lot of authors would have just let it be and not thought twice about providing a pronunciation guide. The author did a great job of world building and I could really get a sense of where the elfies lived. If you are not familiar with the term elfies just think of elves and fairies combined.
I was saddened when part of the story was that the Elfies were underneath a curse. I just kept thinking about how cute that they were. The curse has made it so that the Elfies have to become teeny tiny. A lot of the book has to deal with them finding this book because it is the key to saving the world of Reign.
Even though this book is marked as YA I think that school aged children would really love and get into the plot. Fantasy is something that can stretch across multiple age groups and grab them. I really enjoyed the story and journey that the characters had to go through. This story of little people living in a big world was something that I had not read in a long time and it took me back to the movies that I used to watch as a kid, such as Honey I Shrunk The Kids. I have no idea why that is the image that came to my head, but so be it.
If you like fantasy stories that are fast paced and definitely on the cuter side of things than this book is for you! I would not give it quite five stars but I am strongly giving it FOUR STARS.
I was saddened when part of the story was that the Elfies were underneath a curse. I just kept thinking about how cute that they were. The curse has made it so that the Elfies have to become teeny tiny. A lot of the book has to deal with them finding this book because it is the key to saving the world of Reign.
Even though this book is marked as YA I think that school aged children would really love and get into the plot. Fantasy is something that can stretch across multiple age groups and grab them. I really enjoyed the story and journey that the characters had to go through. This story of little people living in a big world was something that I had not read in a long time and it took me back to the movies that I used to watch as a kid, such as Honey I Shrunk The Kids. I have no idea why that is the image that came to my head, but so be it.
If you like fantasy stories that are fast paced and definitely on the cuter side of things than this book is for you! I would not give it quite five stars but I am strongly giving it FOUR STARS.
December 16, 2013
Jules Blaze is in Elfie, a mix of Elf and Fairy. Elfies are cursed so that they are tiny now, and this is all because of one Keeper. Keepers watch over very important books for the Elfies. Unfortunately for Jules, is seems like the evil lord Gehzurolle is out to get him. Jules, his siblings, and friends will have to venture far from home to try and find out why this is happening. Of course Jules's ultimate goal is to reverse the curse put on the Elfies. It will take a lot of cunning and smarts for Jules to survive this adventure.
I love the idea of this book. The world and ideas are so creative and fun. The Elfies have an interesting past, and Jules seems like the perfect young adventurer to go decurse them. He has a host of help and friends, but he also learns quickly that the world outside his home can be a perilous place. His Grandfather disappeared after having gone to find someone to ask about the Blaze family makeup, and then his mother disappeared in an apparent attack. Jules has a lot to try and figure out, not to mention all the traps and perils he discovers out in the wide world.
I felt like the writing felt a bit skippy to me at times, but overall I found this to be an enjoyable read. It manages to be cute and interesting at the same time. The chapters are sometimes very short, so I think this could help younger readers to not lose interest and have a workable goal to get to. The story is very creative, and lovers of fantasy and adventure will find things to enjoy in this book.
Book provided for review.
I love the idea of this book. The world and ideas are so creative and fun. The Elfies have an interesting past, and Jules seems like the perfect young adventurer to go decurse them. He has a host of help and friends, but he also learns quickly that the world outside his home can be a perilous place. His Grandfather disappeared after having gone to find someone to ask about the Blaze family makeup, and then his mother disappeared in an apparent attack. Jules has a lot to try and figure out, not to mention all the traps and perils he discovers out in the wide world.
I felt like the writing felt a bit skippy to me at times, but overall I found this to be an enjoyable read. It manages to be cute and interesting at the same time. The chapters are sometimes very short, so I think this could help younger readers to not lose interest and have a workable goal to get to. The story is very creative, and lovers of fantasy and adventure will find things to enjoy in this book.
Book provided for review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews